St Catherines GAA

16 November, 2017

St Catherines GAA
Juvenile AGM tonight
Oops! A quick check through the forward planner and there it was. Thursday, November 16 sees the staging of the juvenile Annual General Meeting. It takes place in the clubrooms in Ballynoe. It is the most important get-together in the underage section of the club over the entire year and commences at 8pm. While we’re at it can we inform you that the annual meeting of the parent club goes ahead in Ballynoe Community Hall on Saturday, November 25 at 8pm. That’s also the night for the East Cork Scór na nÓg finals in Lisgoold Community Hall at 7.30pm. Please let our Irish/Cultural Officer Marie Clancy know if you are interested in participating.
strictly st catherines
They were dancing in Pairc Ui Rinn and in the Conna / Ballnoe parish last Tuesday week as the St Catherines hurlers were crowned 2017 Cork junior A hurling champions, last Saturday night the dancing was in the Radisson Blu, Little Island and what a super show unfolded. The most flamboyant - and thus far the most glamorous – fundraiser, jointly organised by the GAA and camogie clubs was a resounding success. ‘Strictly St Catherines’, with New Ireland Assurance sponsors of the event, with each participant attaining their own individual sponsorship also, was simply fabulous. Ann Galvin was Strictly chairperson. Choreographer for the entire event (a massive undertaking) was Niamh Twomey. Well-known commentator from local radio, Paudie Palmer, acted as master of ceremonies. William Kearney was green room MC. Thirteen separate dance partnerships performed on the night.
The winning routine was decided by a number of factors, primarily by the quality of the dance as decided by expert judge Liam Guiney with the assistance of Assumpta Mangan and Pat Hartigan. Each couple were credited points based on the amount raised through sponsorship over the last couple of months. But of course you, the voting public, ultimately decided it. Votes cost €5 each and were on sale throughout the evening. Antoinette O’Donnell and John O’Meara with the tango and Denis Walsh and Margaret O’Connell who performed a waltz, were in the shake-up. But the winners on the night were John Mulcahy and Fiona Sheehan, with their version of the ‘Paso Doble’. A feather in the cap for the juvenile club, as Mulcahy Steel are sponsors and Fiona is juvenile club treasurer. Laya healthcare sponsored first prize.
A fantastic success
Each dance combo organised a promotional video of their act. Winner of this award, which was a parody on the Diet Coke ad, were Matt McAuliffe and Linda O’Keeffe, who danced a ‘Broadway Quickstep’. At the end, Paddy Aherne, on behalf of the dancers addressed the multitudes present. A huge undertaking, from the hotel, the organising committee, PR team, video production team, TVM, right down to hairdressing, make-up, stage and lighting etc. Massive. It’s probably the kind of event you couldn’t organise every year. But the first year of ‘Strictly St Catherines’ was a resounding success, capping a marvellous week for the clubs. Take another bow, one and all!
County junior A hurling championship final – replay
St Catherines 0-13
Brian Dillons 0-12
Salute the heroes. As the Saints rescued what was a perilously ominous situation, grinding out the perfect result, when winning out this county junior A hurling championship final replay at a cold and occasionally wet Páirc Uí Rinn on Tuesday evening, November 7. If there was to be a subsequent downpour it wouldn’t have mattered, as Catherines’ supporters lapped up and revelled in the joyous occasion. Claiming their fourth adult title in a thirty-four year period, adding to the junior title won in November 1983, then winning the Intermediate championship eleven years later, before being crowned inaugural Premier Intermediate champions in 2004, when current manager Ian O’Connell was goalkeeper, against Courcey Rovers. All those county finals were played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Shane O’Brien pointed the way from a placed ball on fifty seconds, but thereafter would depart the action with a thigh injury. His replacement, Ronan Clancy, had a major say as early as the fifth minute in the destination of the title, plunged into the cauldron of all that a county final brings. Clancy assumed free taking duties. He didn’t get them all, but pointed the ones that counted - often in pressure situations. He handled the situation well for a player tasting his first serious championship action of the season. Only an injury time cameo role against Russell Rovers in the county semi-final was his previous first team appearance.
It was obvious from an early stage that defensively Catherines were coping well with what could be a threatening opposition attack. Remember the formidable points tallies put up against Banteer, Dromina and Nemo Rangers in the county rounds of this magnificent competition, including beaten divisional finalists for the first time. In what was always going to be a tight, closely fought affair, it was 0-02 each to the end of the first quarter. Indeed, Brian Dillons didn’t score from play at all in the opening half. Richard O’Connell and Pádraig O’Connor were among the Saints scorers in building up a 0-07 to 0-05 half time advantage.
Slowly but surely Brian Dillons assumed control. As in the draw the previous Sunday they were enjoying a lucrative and rewarding third quarter. Darragh Rodgers, a one-time Cork panellist in the Denis Walsh regime, Tommy Lawrence, Colin Lynch and team captain John Horgan, were flying. A three-point deficit at 0-09 to 0-06 to thirty three minutes turned right around into a lead by a similar margin. All players finding the range, six unanswered points, the return as Brian Dillons eased themselves into a lead of 0-12 to 0-09 to forty four minutes. Questions being asked, bench being emptied and the response, to a man, commendable.
Brian Mulcahy put over a crucial score, his third of the hour and eight in all over the two games. Along with Daniel Mangan and Eoin Condon, they now add junior medals to the senior ones already claimed with Imokilly. Clancy saw parity restored for the first time since the twenty-third minute and third in all at 0-12 each. Lynch missed a vital opposition free. Why were the takers changed? As Richie O’Connell, due back to Australia shortly, won the vital free, coolly slotted over by the super cool Clancy for the lead score at 0-13 to 0-12 to fifty seven minutes. There were scenes of euphoria as the sound of Davy Copps full-time whistle was being greeted, having waited for what seemed like four agonising, injury time minutes. Stars from previous county finals mingling with the new heroes.
In accepting the John Quirke Cup from Ger Lane, chairman of the Cork GAA County Board, Daniel Mangan delivered an emotional and thought provoking captain’s speech, touching on the all too soon deaths of Alice Aherne and Noel Mulcahy, whose respective sons were playing. As well as Dan and Dave Hoare, both of whom also passed away in recent years. Back to a victory parade in Conna. Let the celebrations begin!
Scorers: R Clancy (0-06 frees), B Mulcahy (0-03), R O’Connell, D Mangan, O’Connor and S O’Brien (free) (0-01 each).
Brian Dillons scorers: J Horgan (0-05 frees) (0-07), C Lynch (0-02 frees) (0-03), T Lawrence and D Rodgers (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: E Aherne, E Wallace, S Morris, L O’Connor, C Hegarty, C Aherne, E Condon, S Cotter, S O’Brien, R Galvin, B Mulcahy, P O’Connor, R O’Connell, D Mangan (team captain) and S Kearney. Subs: R Clancy for S O’Brien (6’), J Neville for S Kearney (42’), W Walsh for C Aherne (46’), P Roche for R O’Connell (61’), C Kearney for P O’Connor (63’). Also on panel: C Leahy, P Keane, E Kenneally, K Neville, S O’Regan, D Lane, N O’Regan, S O’Brien, J Mulcahy, J Hurley, L Kearney, J Casey and S Walsh.
Referee: Davy Copps (Ballyhea).
Munster junior hurling championship semi-final
Ballybacon Grange 1-11
St Catherines 0-09
A third major tussle inside seven days allied to the understandable celebrating and the staging of Strictly less than twenty four hours previously, probably found the Saints out, losing by a five point margin in this Munster junior club semi-final when played in Ardfinnan on Sunday afternoon last. Catherines actually made the better start. Ronan Clancy pointed twice from placed balls. Shane Kearney with the key pass picked out Rory Galvin who added another from play, making it four points without reply to nine minutes. It could and should have been more. Slowly Ballybacon clawed their way into it. They were winning more around the middle of the field. Had their first score from play after twenty minutes and a hat-trick of pointed frees from influential goalkeeper Brendan Cummins tied it all up at 0-06 each by half time.
Again the Saints started brightly on the turnover. Liam O’Connor released Brian Mulcahy to point a snappy score. Daniel Mangan added a further brace, establishing a 0-09 to 0-06 lead to thirty four minutes, when Gerry Cronin finished off the opposition’s and game’s only goal, sixty seconds later. Four further points, including another two from the sharp Cummins, had Ballybacon in a strong position. Despite the best efforts of both teams, we had to wait until the sixty-fourth minute for the next and the game’s last score. Aaron Lonergan pointing for the Tipp representatives who now meet either Bodyke or Ardmore in the final.
St Catherine’s scorers: D Mangan and B Mulcahy (0-03 each), R Clancy (0-01 free) (0-01 ‘65’) (0-02) and R Galvin (0-01).
Ballybacon Grange scorers: B Cummins (0-05 frees), G Cronin (1-01), A Lonergan (0-02 frees) (0-03), B Hewitt and A Savage (0-01 each).
St Catherine’s team: E Aherne, E Wallace, S Morris, L O’Connor, C Hegarty, E Condon, W Walsh, C Kearney, S Cotter, P O’Connor, R Clancy, R Galvin, B Mulcahy, D Mangan and S Kearney. Subs: J Neville for C Kearney (30’), R O’Connell for S Kearney (second half), P Roche for R Clancy (36’), P Keane for P O’Connor (39’), N O’Regan for S Cotter (46’).
Referee: Jason Mullins (Limerick).
Rebel Óg East U14 B1 hurling league final
St Catherines 2-03
St Vincents 3-12
Following on from the visibly upset at a sizeable championship loss to the Saints in their own pitch back in the middle of August, on this occasion St Vincents mangled the form book to shreds, running out clear and comprehensive victors of this Rebel Óg East U14 B1 hurling league final when played at a dull, misty and overcast Ballynoe early on Saturday morning last.
Vincents grasped the initiative early and with JP O’Brien finding the range, were six points without reply ahead to nine minutes. Suddenly the home team were right back in it. Gearóid O’Brien in a few roles added 2-01. Further scores from Harry Draper and a Cathal Dinneen free after Conor England was fouled saw this year’s divisional championship winners ahead on a half time scoreline of 2-03 to 0-08. But that was that. Luke Condon, Kyle O’Connor and Benjamin Long were very good, as Vincents went on to dominate. Liam Shanahan, Rebel Óg East chairman presented the shield to winning captain David Butler.
Scorers: G O’Brien (2-01), H Draper and C Dinneen (free) (0-01 each).
Team: E Philpott, S O’Donoghue, K Wallace, O Fitzgerald, B O’Connor, M Geary, D Galvin, F O’Connell, C Dinneen, E O’Riordan, H Draper (capt), C England, W Leamy, G O’Brien and N Sheehan. Subs: D Morrison for N Sheehan (second half), A O’Donnell for W Leamy (42’), G Leahy for C England (52’), W McAuliffe for F O’Connell (53’), J O’Callaghan for O Fitzgerald (55’).
Referee: Ger Scully (Killeagh).
Parish Leagues
Just to reiterate a point made but not seeing the light of day is that winning parish league division three football captain was Sarah Clancy of the Waterford team. In the division two competitions for nine and ten year olds Waterford captained by Shay Wallace were victorious in the hurling final. Cork won the football. Successful captain being Ally Mulkerrins.
Panel of players being: Shay Wallace, Ally Mulkerrins, Gearóid Sheehan, Stephen Mulcahy, Julian Pietropaolo, Lucy Barry, Lexi Cuneen, Sacha O’Sullivan, Liam Moore, James Kenneally, Katelyn Hickey, Katelyn O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Fionn McCready, Daniel Turley, Charlie Leahy, Eryn Dillon, Sadbh Murray, Emma Twomey, Kyle O’Donoghue, Cathal Barry, Gráinne Dinneen, Sophia Fitzgerald, Ellie Barry, Thomas Dee, Sam Aherne, Amy Leahy, Katie O’Donovan, Ella O’Connor, Cillian Hickey, Tristan Clancy, Calum O’Driscoll, Jack Tanner, Ciara McLoughlin, Marie O’Connor, Ciara Fitzgerald, Faye Sheehan, Jake Pratt, John Temple, Hannah Norman, Ava Dowling, Chloe Higgins, Maeve Egan, Sophie Early, Mark Kearney, Shane O’Donoghue, Saorla Twomey, Sarah Hannon, Billy Aherne and Billy McKee.
More Glory Bestowed on Parish
Not just because of the recent success attained by the junior hurlers, we are fortunate to reside in a parish infatuated with sport. Along with his brother Shane, Liam Kearney remains one of the most talented players ever to don a jersey at juvenile level, irrespective of the path taken thereafter. Both were members of the county winning junior panel. But we congratulate Liam as well on the league and cup double attained by Cork City. There is such an intense programme of activities ongoing. Some could be skipped, even overlooked. Orla Cotter, one of the club’s greatest ambassadors, now has five All-Star awards, adding to her six All-Ireland senior camogie medals in the closet. Phenomenal.
Surely all horse racing fans must appreciate last week’s stunning achievements down under. Don’t forget Aidan O’Brien’s horses came one, two, three in last year’s Prix De l’Arc. There was a one, two, three, four in the recent racing post trophy. Oh! When you’re good – you’re good!
Lotto
Back to its regular slot and the lotto results from the draw at McAuliffe’s, Ballynoe on Monday night, November 6. Numbers drawn were 3, 9, 11 and 23. There was no winner of the €9,600 jackpot. The consolation winners on the night were John Barrett, Ballynoe, Gerry Gregan, Clarecastle, Dermot O’Leary, Conna, Hannah Hartnett, Ballynoe and Seán O’Dowd, Conna.
Sponsors
T and A Building and Civil Engineering, Contractors, Ballynoe are St Catherines GAA club sponsors. Mulcahy Steel are sponsors of St Catherines juvenile club.